mayor English · revision 4236

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la maior}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /meə/, US /ˈmeɪ.ɚ/, /mer/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|mer]], mair, maire,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) [[bor|fro|maire|t=head of a city or town government]], originally an adjective, “greater, superior”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|maior|t=greater]], used as a noun in Late Latin,^(SOED 2002)^(AHD 2000) the comparative of [[m|la|magnus|t=great, large]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*meǵh₂-|alt=*meg-|t=great]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is a doublet of [[major]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The chief officer of a city or borough: 1297 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline and Barnhart,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and as a surname, Mair, from 1242.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Before 1300 it was also used generally of anyone in high judicial office, a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989) In Scotland the mair was formerly the title of various officers, from 1429.^(OED 1989) The ''Mayor of the Palace'', the chief officer of the Frankish kings, translates French maire du palais, from 1529.^(OED 1989) ''Mayoralty'' is from 1386,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''mayoress'' from the late 15th century as the wife of a mayor, by 1863 as a woman holding the office.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1242 – as a surname.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1297 – the head of a town.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1386 – ''mayoralty''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1529 – ''Mayor of the Palace''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1863 – ''mayoress'', a woman mayor.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The head of government of a [[city]], town or borough.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(British)'' The ceremonial head of a town or borough council.^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mayoral]]

+ * [[mayorship]]

+ * [[mayoralty]]

+ * [[mayoress]]

+ * [[lord mayor]]

+ * [[mayor's court]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[major]]

+ * [[magnitude]]

+ * [[majesty]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}